Port Adelaide forced to defend star playmaker Robbie Gray’s fitness ahead of historic trip to China
PORT Adelaide has again been forced to defend star playmaker Robbie Gray’s fitness after questions over his supposed groin injury again reared their head but this time internally.
Port Adelaide
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PORT Adelaide has again been forced to defend star playmaker Robbie Gray’s fitness after questions over his supposed groin injury again reared their head but this time internally.
Assistant coach Aaron Greaves yesterday insisted Gray would be on the plane to China to play Gold Coast this weekend and said there were no plans to rest him after that.
It came just hours after Gray’s teammate, Hamish Hartlett, told breakfast radio that the 29-year-old may miss a week or two after the bye which came as a shock to supporters.
Gray got some treatment from Port’s medical staff on the boundary on Saturday night after appearing to cop a knock to his leg but he played out the game.
“There’s no issues with Robbie. Robbie was fine on the weekend, probably managed over pre-season a bit the same as other players his age and with his medical history,” Greaves said.
“But Robbie is in a really good spot at the moment, he’ll play this week and barring any injuries going forward I don’t see a time when he wouldn’t play a game.”
The issue of Gray’s groins emerged in April when he revealed he had been battling soreness during the pre-season, but senior coach Ken Hinkley has this season repeatedly said the three-time club champion is completely fine.
Immediately after Saturday night’s loss to West Coast Hinkley was again asked about Gray who had 15 disposals and was scoreless.
“He is what he is, as I’ve said before he’s always had some issues with bits and pieces but that’s Robbie,” Hinkley said.
“His opponent played pretty good footy tonight, I don’t think we should get too worried about what Robbie was or wasn’t physically, I think his opponent probably had the better of him.
“Rob went on ball and got going a bit for us. It wasn’t a great game but he wasn’t on his own.”
On Monday morning, defender Hamish Hartlett told Triple M that Gray would be right for the trip to China but may be forced to rest for a week or two after that.
“I would say he would be right for China this week (and) we’ll be able to manage him through that one,” Hartlett said on Triple M.
“Obviously we’ve got the bye, then he might need to miss a week or two after that.
“It’s a conversation that Robbie will probably need to have with (Port) fitness and medical staff in due course.”
The last time Gray faced public questions over his fitness was before the Round 5 clash with Carlton and he responded with 22 disposals and 5.4 on the scoreboard in a best-afield performance.
The Power reported no injuries from its 10-point loss to West Coast on Saturday night and plans to take a squad of 25 which will travel in two groups on Tuesday and Wednesday to Shanghai to play the Suns.
They will train on Thursday and Saturday before the game starting at 2.45pm Adelaide time on Sunday.
reece.homfray@news.com.au
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